OpenAI Collaborates with Dotdash Meredith, a Leading Publisher in People Media

OpenAI is advancing towards a licensed approach for training materials through a partnership with Dotdash Meredith, the publisher behind popular brands like People and Better Homes & Gardens. This collaboration enables Dotdash Meredith to license its content for training ChatGPT, while OpenAI’s models will enhance the publisher's in-house ad-targeting tool.

As part of the agreement, ChatGPT will feature content and links from Dotdash Meredith's publications, providing OpenAI with fully licensed training materials from trusted sources. This development comes after OpenAI faced criticism for allegedly using content without permission. Notable complaints came from The New York Times, Alden Capital Group's publications (including The Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel), comedian Sarah Silverman, and others.

Neil Vogel, CEO of Dotdash Meredith, emphasized the importance of compensating publishers for their content, stating, “This deal is a testament to the great work OpenAI is doing on both fronts to partner with creators and publishers for a healthier Internet.”

Prior to the Dotdash Meredith collaboration, OpenAI entered a similar agreement with The Financial Times. John Ridding, the paper's CEO, affirmed, “It is right, of course, that AI platforms pay publishers for the use of their material.”

Additionally, Dotdash Meredith, which owns Investopedia, Food & Wine, InStyle, and Verywell, will leverage OpenAI’s models to enhance its D/Cipher ad-targeting tool. This innovative advertising system connects brands directly to consumers based on the context of the content they engage with, moving away from traditional personal identifiers like cookies. This shift aligns with the industry's trend towards a cookie-less future, as initiatives by companies like Google evolve.